Pennington County Commissioners 
                            315 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 156 
                                 Rapid City, SD  57701 
                                    (605) 394-2171
                                  Fax – (605) 394-6833





                                       PROCLAMATION


It is with honor that the Pennington County Commission and on behalf of the Berlin Airlift 
Veteran’s Association join in the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift to be 
held at Rapid City, South Dakota from September 29 to October 3, 2008.  The Berlin Airlift 
started on June 26, 1948 after the Soviets blockaded all routes into the city of Berlin on June 24, 
1948.  This would not allow any food to come into Berlin, starving the Berliners and demanding 
that the US, Britain, and France leave Berlin.  It would give Russia complete control of 
Germany. This was one of the first major international crisis of the Cold War.  The Airlift pilots 
flew 24 hours a day hauling food and coal with planes landing at the Templehof airport every 
three minutes for 11 months.  The Soviets then lifted the blockade.  This humanitarian effort was 
the greatest airlift ever known.

The Commission encourages all citizens of Pennington County to join in remembrance of the 
many sacrifices made by these brave American men and women during the aftermath of World 
War II.  The efforts of the Berlin Airlift Pilots saved over 2 ½ million West Berlin men, women, 
and children from certain starvation and saved the city of Berlin. 

Dated at Rapid City, South Dakota, this 19th day of August, 2008


	_________________					_______________________
	Brenda Young, Chair					Nancy Trautman, Vice Chair


	_________________________			________________________
	James Kjerstad, Commissioner		Ethan Schmidt, Commissioner


				      ________________________
                     Gale Holbrook, Commissioner